ECI Suspends TSTDC MD, OSD for Violating MCC

Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued orders suspending TS Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) managing director Boinapally Manohar Rao and officer on special duty (OSD) Y. Satyanarayana for violating the model code of conduct (MCC) by accompanying tourism minister V. Srinivas Goud, who is also contesting the elections, on his visit to Tirumala on October 15 and 16.

The ECI sought an explanation from the tourism principal secretary connection with MCC violation, by 3 pm on November 19.

ECI secretary Sanjay Kumar, in  a communique said that the poll panel had announced the election schedule on October 9 which brought the model code of conduct (MCC) into force. A complaint was received that Manohar Rao and Satyanarayana had gone Tirumala on October 15 and 16 and were seen accompanying minister Srinivas Goud.

The ECI went through the report on the incident sent by the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer which substantiated the charge. It said that by accompanying a minister and candidate, the officers had violated the instructions issued by the poll panel with regard to protocol by government officers.

According to Sanjay Kumar, the MCC Manual on the issue states in chapter 7: Government officials of state and districts shall not receive, see off or call upon, by way of protocol, on the ministers at the Centre or of the states when they visit any state or district on election tour. Government employees shall not only be impartial but shall also appear to be so in relation to the elections. They are required to conduct themselves in such a manner as to inspire confidence in the public in regard to their impartiality so that there might not be any occasion for the people to think that elections will not be held in a free, fair and pure atmosphere.